Island



' (No Model.)

G. W.. PRENTIGE. BUTTON FASTENER.

No. 451,070. Patented Apr. 28,1891.

WITNESSES. [E4 INVENTCIR.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE W'. PRENTICE, OF PROVIDENCE, RI-IODE ISLAND.

BUTTON-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 451,070, dated April 28, 1891. Application filed January 26, 1891- Serial No. 379,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PRENTICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the ,county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the production of this invention or improvement in button-fasteners formed from wire I have had a threefold object in view, namely: first,to provideforthe centering of the buttoneye shank in a curvilinear top or crown to get equal strain upon the legs of the fastener; second, to provide two substantially parallel legs in connection with the body portion of the fastener to obtain directness of thrust of said legs into the material and maximum grasp of material thereby, and, third, in connection with said two objects, to provide the crown or top of the fastener with diverging side portions of peculiar construction, which, in connection with the legs, will, when the fastener is clinched to the material, firmly clamp the material (within the grasp or reach of the clinched legs) between said legs and said side portions, whereby a broad flattened securingbase is provided for the crown or topto securely hold the button in place, and likewise to prevent the staple in use from turning in the material in such manner as to bring practically one leg or the other in the form of a hook on the upper or face side of the material, which objection has heretofore been common and serious to some forms of wire button-fasteners, which, owing to their construction, did not provide for the clamping of the material between the prongs and the diverging side portions.

Figure 1 shows in elevation an outline or skeleton of a fastener embodying my invention, and also indicating in dotted lines a number of circles to point out more clearly the contrasted curves of the side portions and the arc-shaped top or crown. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of my improved fastener ready for use and Fig. 3 is an elevation of my improved fastener having a button strung upon it and with its legs clinched to material, the material being shown in section.

My improved fastener comprises a main or body portion and an attaching-portion made from wire, the body portion consisting of an arc-shaped crown or top a and two side portions 1), which diverge from the crown a, and each ofwhich is composed of two contrasting curves or arcs c c, the whole forming a curvilinear body portion, the contour of the inner wall of which follows the contour of the outer wall thereof, each curve 0 or c on the inner side of said body portion being concentric with the corresponding curve 0 or 0, respectively, on the outer surface or wall thereof. This body portion is provided with a leg or prong e, projecting from each. termination thereof, the said legs being substantially straight and parallel with each other. By this construction, it will be observed by inspection of the drawings, bearing-shoulders f are provided at the points Where the legs 6 join the body portion to limit the penetration of said prongs and to clearly define the bodyportion from the attaching portion of the fastener; and, further, by shaping the diverging side portions to provide contrasting curves or arcs c c a portion of the inner Walls of said portions will, when the legs 6 are clinched, as indicated in Fig. 3, bear upon the upper side or face of the material while said legs engage the under side thereof, so that the material within the grasp or reach of the bent or clinched legs is clamped between said legs and side portions, and the fastener securely held in given position in the material to provide, in effect, a broad firm base for the crown or top a, whereby strain exerted on the button m will be equally distributed throughout the fastener on each side of the button-eye, and, secondly, the, fastener will be prevented from turning in the material when in use. Likewise, it will be observed that, by reason of the side portionsbeing formed of contrasting curves or arcs c c, the button-eye wire is in effect confined on three sides by the fastener itself to prevent lateral play thereof, while at the same time that por tion of the fastener exposed on the face side of the material presents a neat and compact appearance.

from the extremities of the body portion, the

junction of the legs with the body portion formingcorners or bearing-shoulders to define said body portion and to limit the penetration of the legs of the fastener into the material to which it is to be attached, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. W. PRENTICE. Witnesses:

IF. A. SMITH, Jr., "W. E. HUSBAND. 

